Artificial limb.



J. B. STAGE.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1913.

Patented Oct. 28, 1913.

IIVI/EIVTOR wa /W19 $7766;

Ana/211mm UNITED sTArss PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH B. STAGE, OF WABENO, WISCONSIN.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. STAGE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of \Vabeno. in the county of Forest and State of lVisconsin, have invented a new and Improved Artificial Limb, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in artificial limbs, and has for an object to provide a structure in which the various parts are so articulated as to move in a similar manner to the natural limbs.

Another object of the invention is to provide operating means for the articulated parts of an artificial'limb whereby a natural movement is simulated. v

A still further object of the invention is to provide an artificial leg with an "articulated foot, and means co-acting therewith for causing the foot to move pivotally as the leg is swung so as to produce substantially the same effect as a natural leg.

In carrying out the object of the invention the upper part of the device is provided with an inclosing member which is designed to be laced or strapped to'the stump of the natural limb which may have been cut off above the knee. Pivotally connected with the upper part or limb is a lower limb conformed to the. lower natural limb, and to the lower limb is pivotally connected a foot. A pair of guiding wires or cables are arranged to extend from' the, upper limb through the lower limb to the foot, and are arranged to pass all guides in such a manner as to cause the foot to tilt or rise in walking similarly to the natural foot. Arranged at the knee joint is a lock designed to lock the pivotal connection between the upper and lower limbs when the limbs have become alined and weight has been applied to the upper limb whereby the entire artificial structure is comparatively stiff in order to support properly the weight of the entire body in walking.

Referring to the accompanying drawing-Figure 1 is a side view of a limb embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical central section through the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the joint and lock arranged at the knee; Fig. 4 is an enlarged section through Fig. 1' on line 14; and Fig. 5 is a section through Fig. 2 on line 55.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numeral 1 indicates the upper limb and 2 the lower limb, to which is pivot-ally connected the foot 3. The upper limb 1 is designed toreceive the stump of the leg when the leg is cut off above the knee to be actu- Patented Oct. 28,1913.

Application filed July 11, 1 918. Serial No. 778,468.

ated by the stump of the natural leg. The

knee is provided with a pivotally mounted joint 5 more clearly shown in detail in Fig. 3. This joint is formed with a ring. structure 6 and a retaining strap or extension 7 designed to be rigidly secured in any desired manner to the lower limb 2, as for instance byscrews. Arranged in the ring 6 are plates 8 and 9 carrying grooves 10 and '11 for accommodating the beads 12 and 13 extending from the locking member v14. The locking member l l is rigidly secured by any' desired means, as for instance,

screws, to the upper limb 1, whereby when any pressure is brought to bear on the upper limb 1 locking member 14 will first act. for spreading plates 8 and '9 in order to cause the same to grip ring 6. This will causethe upper and lower limbs to be rigidly'connected together. Thespace between the upper limb and lower limb is suflicient to allow this movement which in operation is small. lVhen the weight is removed from the upper limb 1 the weight of lower limb 2, foot 3 and associated parts will be sufficient to disconnect locks 8 and v9 from locking member 14 and allow the lower limb 2 togethed with foot 3 to swing freely. Any desired means may be provided for holding plates 8 and 9 in ring 6, as for instance the tongue and grooves 15 and 16, and this in turn may be held in limb 1 by any desired means, as for instance annular flanges 17 and 18 whereby ring 6 may freely swing with limb 2, and reciprocate in respect to limb l but not become disengaged from limb 1. The slide in front of the knee joint when moved up allows the cords to slacken so that as the knee is bent the foot will only be released sufliciently to make a step and then if the leg is bent it will not raise the toe.

Limb 2 is preferably made hollow and provided with bearing members 19 in which journal members 20 are arranged. The foot 3 is provided wit-h a pair of extensions 21 for engaging the journal members 20 so as to pivotally connect foot 3 with limb 2. The toe portion 22 of foot 3 is pivotally connected to the body portion of foot 3 by a suitable pivotal member 23 and is held as a continuation of the body portion of foot 3 by a suitable spring 24. Rigidly connected with limb 1 at points and 26 are cables 27 and 28 formed of any desired material, as for instance, metal. These cables pass over the guiding members 31 and 32 at the ankle, and are finally wrapped around a shaft 33 which is journaled in foot 3. The shaft 33 is provided with a worm wheel 34 meshing with the worm 35, which in turn is operated by a suitable shaft 36 extending to a notched portion 37 in foot 3, whereby the tension of the cables or wires 27 and 28 may vary and any slack may be taken up.

In operation after part 1 has been strapped or laced to the stump of the leg and the various parts arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the device is in condition for use. Vvhen the stump of the natural leg is swung forward the parts will assume substantially the positions shown in Fig. 2, limb 2 swinging freely on joint 5. As soon as the body of the person is thrown forward and the weight rests upon limb 1 there is a slight downward movement of limb 1 which will cause locking member 14 to lock joint 5, thereby making a stiff structure substantially positioned as shown in Fig. 1, which position is maintained except that the foot 3 may be moved pivotally and therebygive a more natural pose to the action of the artificial limbs. hen the weight is taken off the leg the wedge will not strike the ring in the knee joint as it is held by the cord.

- This will also prevent any appreciable noise.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a device of the character described, an upper limb. a lower limb articulated with the upper limb. means for locking the lower limb rigid in relationship to the upper limb. a foot connected with the lower limb, wires connecting said foot to the upper limb for causing the upper limb to actuate the foot, guiding pins arranged in the upper limb and in the lower limb for guiding said connecting wires and means arranged in said foot for maintaining said Wires under tenslon.

2. In a device of the character described, an upper limb, a lower limb pivotally connected with the upper limb, a foot pivotally connected with the lower limb, a pair of spaced wires extending from the upper limb through the lower limb to said foot, means for connecting the upper end of the said wires to the opposite sides of the upper limb, a plurality of means for holding said wires spaced and means for connecting the lower end of the said wires to said foot, whereby when said upper limb is moved pivotally said foot will be correspondingly moved.

3. In a device of the character described, an upper limb. a lower limb, a joint for pivotallv connecting said limbs, said joint com prising a ring structure connected with one of the limbs and interlocking with the other limb, a pair of clamping plates arranged on said ring and a locking member rigidly secured to said upper limb arranged to engage and spread said plates against said ring for causing a locking action between the plates and the ring. whereby the upper and lower limbs are rigidly held together.

4:. In a device of the character described, an upper limb, a lower limb jointed to the upper limb, means for locking the limbs together when pressure is brought to bear on said upper limb, said means including a socket member connected with the lower limb and overlapping the upper limb, a wedgeshaped member rigidly connected with the upper member and projecting into said socket member. and means actuated by said wedge for clamping said socket member, and means for connecting a foot structure to said lower limb.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH B. STAGE.

\Vitnesses J. E. HIMLEY, ANDREW Zeno. 

